File Nos. 2-92583 & 811-4084
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-12
HAWAIIAN TAX-FREE TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(212) 697-6666
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
<page>
Important Notice
Please Read Immediately
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017
Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held
on September 19, 2007
To Shareholders of the Trust:
The purpose of this Notice is to advise you that an Annual Meeting of the
Shareholders of Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust (the "Trust") will be held:
Place: (a) at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom,
410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii;
Time: (b) on Wednesday, September 19, 2007
at 10:00 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time;
Purposes: (c) for the following purposes:
(i) to elect seven Trustees; each Trustee elected will hold
office until the next annual meeting of the Trust's
shareholders or until his or her successor is duly elected
(Proposal No. 1);
(ii) to ratify (that is, to approve) or reject the
selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Trust's
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending March 31, 2008 (Proposal No. 2);
(iii) to act upon any other matters which may properly come
before the Meeting at the scheduled time and place or any
adjourned meeting or meetings.
Who Can
Vote What
Shares: (d) To vote at the Meeting, you must have been a
shareholder on the Trust's records at the close of
business on June 22, 2007 (the "record date"). Also,
the number of shares of each of the Trust's
outstanding classes of shares that you held at that
time and the respective net asset values of each
class of shares at that time determine the number of
votes you may cast at the Meeting (or any adjourned
meeting or meetings).
By order of the Board of Trustees,
EDWARD M. W. HINES
Secretary
August 8, 2007
Please Note:
If you do not expect to attend the Meeting, please vote by any of three
ways: by the Internet, by telephone or by completing the enclosed proxy card and
returning it in the accompanying stamped envelope. To avoid unnecessary expense
to the Trust, we request your cooperation in voting no matter how large or small
your holding may be.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
Proxy Statement
Introduction
The purpose of the Notice preceding this Proxy Statement is to advise you
of the time, place and purposes of an Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust (the "Trust"). The purpose of this Proxy Statement is to
give you information on which you may base your decisions as to the choices, if
any, you make in voting.
The Trust's Administrator (the "Administrator") is Aquila Investment
Management LLC, 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017, a subsidiary
of the Trust's founder, Aquila Management Corporation. The Trust's principal
underwriter (the "Distributor") is Aquila Distributors, Inc., 380 Madison
Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017. The Trust's Investment Adviser (the
"Adviser") is Asset Management Group of Bank of Hawaii, Financial Plaza of the
Pacific, P.O. Box 3170, Honolulu, HI 96802.
A copy of the Trust's most recent annual report will be sent to you without
charge upon written request to the Distributor, at the above address, or by
calling 800-437-1020 toll-free or 212-697-6666.
This Notice and Proxy Statement are first being mailed on or about
August 8, 2007.
You should read this Proxy Statement prior to voting. If your shares are
registered in the name of your broker or someone other than yourself, you may
authorize that person to vote your shares. If your shares are registered in your
name, then you may vote in one of three ways:
(1) Proxy Card
The enclosed proxy card authorizes the persons named (or their substitutes)
to vote your shares; the Trust calls these persons the "proxy holders." As to
the election of Trustees you may authorize the proxy holders to vote your shares
for the entire slate indicated below by marking the appropriate box on the proxy
card or by merely signing and returning your proxy card with no instructions. Or
you may withhold the authority of the proxy holders to vote on the election of
Trustees by marking the appropriate box. Also, you may withhold that authority
as to any particular nominee by following the instructions on the proxy card.
As to the other matter listed on the proxy card, you may direct the proxy
holders to vote your shares on this proposal by marking the appropriate box
"For" or "Against" or instruct them not to vote your shares on the proposal by
marking the "Abstain" box. If you return your signed proxy card and do not mark
a box on the proposal, the proxy holders will vote your shares for that
proposal.
(2) Internet Voting
To vote your shares by the Internet, please contact the Trust at the
Internet address shown on your proxy card. You will be prompted to enter the
control number on your proxy card. Follow the instructions on the screen, using
your proxy card as a guide. If you vote by the Internet, you need not return the
proxy card by mail.
(3) Telephone Voting
To vote your shares by telephone, call the toll-free number on your proxy
card. You will be prompted to enter the control number on your proxy card.
Follow the recorded instructions using your proxy card as a guide. If you vote
by phone, you need not return the proxy card by mail.
General Information
You may end the power of the proxy holders to vote your shares by: (i) so
notifying the Trust in writing; (ii) signing a new and different proxy card (if
the Trust receives it before the old one is used); (iii) voting your shares at
the meeting in person or by your duly appointed agent; or (iv) calling the
toll-free number provided or contacting the Trust's Internet address, both of
which are detailed on your proxy card, entering your control number and revoking
your previous vote.
Proxies for shares held by brokers in "street name" and not voted or marked
as abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum. They will
be counted as present in determining voting results, and will therefore have the
same effect as negative votes.
The Trust is sending you this Notice and Proxy Statement in connection with
the solicitation by its Trustees of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting to
be held at the time and place and for the purposes indicated in the Notice or
any adjourned meeting or meetings. Whenever it is stated in this Proxy Statement
that a matter is to be acted on at the Meeting, this means the Meeting held at
the scheduled time or any adjourned meeting or meetings.
The Trust pays the costs of the solicitation. Proxies are being solicited
by the use of the mails; they may also be solicited by telephone, facsimile and
personal interviews. Brokerage firms, banks and others may be requested to
forward this Notice and Proxy Statement to beneficial owners of the Trust's
shares so that these owners may authorize the voting of their shares. The Trust
will pay these firms their out-of-pocket expenses for doing so.
On the record date, the Trust had three classes of shares outstanding. All
shareholders of the Trust are entitled to vote at the meeting. Each shareholder
on the record date is entitled to one vote for each dollar (and a proportionate
fractional vote for each fraction of a dollar) of net asset value (determined as
of the record date) represented by full and fractional shares of any class held
on the record date. On the record date, the net asset value per share of each of
the Trust's outstanding classes of shares was as follows: Class A Shares,
$11.12; Class C Shares, $11.11; and Class Y Shares, $11.14. The meeting is
expected to act only upon matters that affect the Trust as a whole: the election
of Trustees and the selection of an independent registered public accounting
firm. On matters that affect the Trust as a whole, all shareholders of the
Trust, including the shareholders of all classes of shares of the Trust, are
entitled to vote at the meeting.
On the record date, the total number of shares outstanding for each class
of shares was as follows: Class A Shares, 56,651,009; Class C Shares, 2,968,227;
and Class Y Shares, 2,212,348.
On the record date, the following holders held 5% or more of a class of the
Trust's outstanding shares. On the basis of information received from the
institutional holders, the Trust's management believes that all of the shares
indicated are held by them for the benefit of clients.
Name and Address of the holder of record Number of shares Percent of class
Institutional 5% shareholders:
Merrill Lynch Pierce
Fenner & Smith, Inc., 5,176,478 Class A Shares 9.14%
4800 Deer Lake Drive, 877,137 Class C Shares 29.55%
Jacksonville, FL 32246 169,644 Class Y Shares 7.67%
Strobro
P.O. Box 1930
Honolulu, HI 96805 263,609 Class Y Shares 11.92%
Additional 5% shareholders:
Martha N. Steele,
Trustee of the Martha
San Nicholas Steele
Declaration of Trust,
Honolulu,
HI 96817 185,261 Class Y Shares 8.37%
R. Dwayne Steele, Member
Steele Family
Enterprises LLC
2525 Pali Highway
Honolulu, HI 96817 279,661 Class Y Shares 12.64%
The Trust's management is not aware of any other person beneficially owning
more than 5% of any class of its outstanding shares as of such date.
Election of Trustees
(Proposal No. 1)
At the Meeting, seven Trustees are to be elected. Each Trustee elected will
serve until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor is duly
elected. The nominees selected by the Trustees are named in the table below. See
"Introduction" above for information as to how you can vote your shares in the
election of Trustees.
The following material includes information about each nominee and each
officer of the Trust. All shares of the Trust listed as owned by the Trustees
are Class A Shares unless indicated otherwise. All of the nominees are presently
Trustees and were elected by the shareholders in September 2006. All nominees
have consented to serve if elected.
Nominees(1) (2)
Number of
Portfolios in Other Directorships
Positions Held Fund Held by Trustee
with Trust and Complex(5) (The position held is
Name, Address(3) and Length of Principal Occupation(s) Overseen by a directorship unless
Date of Birth Service(4) During Past 5 Years Trustee indicated otherwise.)
Interested
Trustee (6)
Diana P. Herrmann Trustee since Vice Chair and Chief Executive 12 ICI Mutual Insurance Company
New York, NY 2004, President Officer of Aquila Management
(02/25/58) since 1998 and Corporation, Founder of the
Vice Chair Aquila Group of Fundssm (7) and
since 2003 parent of Aquila Investment
Management LLC, Administrator,
since 2004, President and Chief
Operating Officer since 1997, a
Director since 1984, Secretary
since 1986 and previously its
Executive Vice President, Senior
Vice President or Vice
President, 1986-1997; Chief
Executive Officer and Vice Chair
since 2004 and President, Chief
Operating Officer and Manager of
the Administrator since 2003;
Chair, Vice Chair, President,
Executive Vice President or
Senior Vice President of funds
in the Aquila Group of Fundssm
since 1986; Director of the
Distributor since 1997; trustee,
Reserve Money-Market Funds,
1999-2000 and Reserve Private
Equity Series, 1998-2000;
Governor, Investment Company
Institute (a trade organization
for the U.S fund industry
dedicated to protecting
shareholder interests and
educating the public about
investing) and head of its Small
Funds Committee since 2004;
active in charitable and
volunteer organizations.
Non-interested Trustees
Theodore T. Mason Chair of the Executive Director, East Wind 8 Trustee, Premier VIT.
New York, NY Board of Power Partners LTD since 1994
(11/24/35) Trustees since and Louisiana Power Partners,
2004 and 1999-2003; Treasurer, Alumni
Trustee since Association of SUNY Maritime
1984 College since 2004 (President,
2002-2003, First Vice President,
2000-2001, Second Vice
President, 1998-2000) and
director of the same
organization since 1997;
Director, STCM Management
Company, Inc., 1973-2004; twice
national officer of Naval
Reserve Association, commanding
officer of four naval reserve
units and Captain, USNR (Ret);
director, The Navy League of the
United States New York Council
since 2002; trustee, The
Maritime Industry Museum at Fort
Schuyler, 2000-2004; and the
Maritime College at Fort
Schuyler Foundation, Inc. since
2000.
Thomas W. Courtney Trustee President, Courtney Associates, 5 Chairman of the Board of
Sewickley, PA since 1984 Inc., a venture capital firm, Oppenheimer Quest Value Funds
(08/17/33) since 1988. Group, Oppenheimer Small Cap
Value Fund, Oppenheimer Midcap
Fund, and Oppenheimer Rochester
Group of Funds; Chairman of the
Board of Premier VIT.
Stanley W. Hong Trustee since President, Waste Management of 4 Trustee, Pacific Capital
Honolulu, HI 1992 Hawaii, Inc. and Corporate Vice Funds(R), which includes 12 bond
(04/05/36) President - Hawaii Area for and stock funds; First
Waste Management, Inc., Insurance Co. of Hawaii, Ltd.,
2001-2005; Trustee, The King Lanihau Properties, Ltd., The
William Charles Lunalilo Trust Westye Group - West (Hawaii),
Estate since 2001; President and Inc.
Chief Executive Officer, The
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii,
1996-2001; Director PBS - Hawaii
Foundation since 1998; Regent,
Chaminade University of
Honolulu since 1991; Trustee,
Heald College since 1998;
Trustee, the Nature Conservancy
of Hawaii since 1998; Trustee,
Child and Family Service since
2005; Director, The East West
Center Foundation since 2006;
and a director of other
corporate and community
organizations.
Russell K. Okata Trustee since Executive Director, Hawaii 4 Trustee, Pacific Capital
Honolulu, HI 1992 Government Employees Association Funds(R), which includes 12 bond
(03/22/44) AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO since and stock funds; Chairman,
1981; International Vice Royal State Group (insurance).
President, American Federation
of State, County and Municipal
Employees, AFL-CIO since 1981;
director of various civic and
charitable organizations.
Douglas Philpotts Trustee since Retired; formerly director, 4 Trustee, Pacific Capital
Honolulu, HI 1992 Chairman of the Board and Funds(R), which includes 12 bond
(11/21/31) President of Hawaiian Trust and stock funds.
Company, Limited, a predecessor
of The Asset Management Group of
Bank of Hawaii; present or
former director of various
Hawaii-based civic and
charitable organizations.
Oswald K. Stender Trustee since Director, Hawaiian Electric 4 Trustee, Pacific Capital
Honolulu, HI 1992 Industries, Inc., a public Funds(R), which includes 12 bond
(10/08/31) utility holding company, and stock funds; director,
1993-2004; trustee, the Bernice Grace Pacific Corporation, an
Pauahi Bishop Estate 1990-1999; asphalt paving company, ACE
trustee, Office of Hawaiian Trucking Inc. and Hawaiian
Affairs and a member or trustee Telecom, a telephone company
of several community (communications).
organizations.
Other Individuals
Chairman Emeritus(8)
Lacy B. Herrmann Founder, Founder and Chairman of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Chairman Board, Aquila Management
(05/12/29) Emeritus since Corporation, the sponsoring
2004, Trustee, organization and parent of the
1984-2004, and Manager or Administrator and/or
Chairman of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser to each
Board of fund of the Aquila Group of
Trustees, Fundssm; Chairman of the Manager
1984-2003 or Administrator and/or Adviser
or Sub-Adviser to each since
2004; Founder and Chairman
Emeritus of each fund in the
Aquila Group of Fundssm;
previously Chairman and a
Trustee of each fund in the
Aquila Group of Fundssm since
its establishment until 2004 or
2005; Director of the
Distributor since 1981 and
formerly Vice President or
Secretary, 1981-1998; Trustee
Emeritus, Brown University and
the Hopkins School; active in
university, school and
charitable organizations.
Officers
Charles E. Executive Vice Executive Vice President of all N/A N/A
Childs, III President since funds in the Aquila Group of
New York, NY 2003 Fundssm and the Administrator
(04/01/57) and the Administrator's parent
since 2003; formerly Senior Vice
President, corporate
development, Vice President,
Assistant Vice President and
Associate of the Administrator's
parent since 1987; Senior Vice
President, Vice President or
Assistant Vice President of the
Aquila Money-Market Funds,
1988-2003.
Sherri Foster Senior Vice Senior Vice President, Hawaiian N/A N/A
Lahaina, HI President Tax-Free Trust since 1993 and
(07/27/50) since 1993 formerly Vice President or
Assistant Vice President;
Vice President since 1997 and
formerly Assistant Vice
President of the three Aquila
Money-Market Funds; Vice
President, Aquila Rocky Mountain
Equity Fund since 2006;
Registered Representative of the
Distributor since 1985.
Stephen J. Caridi Vice President Vice President of the N/A N/A
New York, NY (05/06/61) since 1998 Distributor since 1995; Vice
President, Hawaiian Tax-Free
Trust since 1998; Senior Vice
President, Narragansett Insured
Tax-Free Income Fund since 1998,
Vice President 1996-1997; Senior
Vice President, Tax-Free Fund of
Colorado since 2004; Vice
President, Aquila Rocky Mountain
Equity Fund since 2006.
Robert W. Anderson Chief Chief Compliance Officer of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Compliance Trust and each of the other
(08/23/40) Officer since funds in the Aquila Group of
2004 and Fundssm, the Administrator and
Assistant the Distributor since 2004,
Secretary Compliance Officer of the
since 2000 Administrator or its predecessor
and current parent 1998-2004;
Assistant Secretary of the
Aquila Group of Fundssm since
2000.
Joseph P. DiMaggio Chief Financial Chief Financial Officer of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Officer since Aquila Group of Fundssm since 2003
(11/06/56) 2003 and and Treasurer since 2000.
Treasurer since
2000
Edward M. W. Hines Secretary since Partner and then shareholder of N/A N/A
New York, NY 1984 legal counsel to the Trust,
(12/16/39) Hollyer Brady Barrett & Hines
LLP since 1989 and thereafter
its successor, Butzel Long,
since 2007; Secretary of the
Aquila Group of Fundssm.
John M. Herndon Assistant Assistant Secretary of the N/A N/A
New York, NY (12/17/39) Secretary since Aquila Group of Fundssm since
1995 1995 and Vice President of the
three Aquila Money-Market Funds
since 1990; Vice President of
the Administrator or its
predecessor and current parent
since 1990.
Lori A. Vindigni Assistant Assistant Treasurer of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Treasurer since Aquila Group of Fundssm since
(11/02/66) 2000 2000; Assistant Vice President
of the Administrator or its
predecessor and current parent
since 1998; Fund Accountant for
the Aquila Group of Fundssm,
1995-1998.
(1) The Trust's Statement of Additional Information includes additional
information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by
calling 800-437-1020 (toll-free).
(2)From time to time Bank of Hawaii may enter into normal investment management,
commercial banking and lending arrangements with one or more of the Trustees of
the Trust and their affiliates. The Asset Management Group of Bank of Hawaii is
the Trust's investment adviser.
(3) The mailing address of each Trustee and officer is c/o Hawaiian Tax-Free
Trust, 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017.
(3) Each Trustee holds office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or
until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. The term of office of each
officer is one year.
(5) Includes certain Aquila-sponsored funds that are dormant and have no public
shareholders.
(6) Ms. Herrmann is an interested person of the Trust as an officer of the
Trust, as a director, officer and shareholder of the Administrator's corporate
parent, as an officer and Manager of the Administrator, and as a shareholder and
director of the Distributor. Ms. Herrmann is the daughter of Lacy B. Herrmann,
the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Fund.
(7) In this material Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital U.S.
Government Securities Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets
Trust, each of which is a money-market fund, are called the "Aquila Money-Market
Funds"; Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Tax-Free Trust of
Oregon, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky,
Narragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund and Tax-Free Fund For Utah, each of
which is a tax-free municipal bond fund, are called the "Aquila Bond Funds";
Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund is an equity fund; Aquila Three Peaks High
Income Fund is a high income corporate bond fund; considered together, these 12
funds, which do not include the dormant funds described in footnote 5, are
called the "Aquila Group of Fundssm."
(8) The Chairman Emeritus may attend Board meetings but has no voting power.
Securities Holdings of the Nominees
(as of 06/30/07)
Dollar Range of Aggregate Dollar Range of
Name of Ownership in Hawaiian Ownership in funds in the
Trustee Tax-Free Trust(1) Aquila Group of Fundssm (1)
Interested Trustees
Diana P. Herrmann C E
Non-interested Trustees
Theodore T. Mason C C
Thomas W. Courtney C C
Stanley W. Hong C C
Russell K. Okata C C
Douglas Philpotts C C
Oswald K. Stender B C
(1) A. None
B. $1-$10,000
C. $10,001-$50,000
D. $50,001-$100,000
E. over $100,000
None of the non-interested Trustees or their immediate family members holds
of record or beneficially any securities of the Adviser, Administrator or
Distributor.
The Trust does not currently pay fees to any of the Trust's officers or to
Trustees affiliated with the Adviser or Administrator. For its fiscal year ended
March 31, 2007, the Trust paid a total of $135,248 in compensation and
reimbursement of expenses to the Trustees. No other compensation or remuneration
of any type, direct or contingent, was paid by the Trust to its Trustees.
The Trust is one of the twelve funds in the Aquila Group of Fundssm, which
consist of three money-market funds, seven tax-free municipal bond funds, a
high-income corporate bond fund and an equity fund. The following table lists
the compensation of all nominees for Trustee who received compensation from the
Trust or from other funds in the Aquila Group of Fundssm during the Trust's
fiscal year. None of such nominees has any pension or retirement benefits from
the Trust or any of the other funds in the Aquila Group of Fundssm.
Compensation Number of
from all boards on
Compensation funds in the which the
from the Aquila Group Trustee
Name Trust of Fundssm serves*
Theodore T. Mason $21,400 $117,950 8
Thomas W.
Courtney $21,400 $89,200 5
Stanley W. Hong $18,900 $63,700 4
Russell K. Okata $17,900 $62,700 4
Douglas Philpotts $17,900 $62,200 4
Oswald K. Stender $18,900 $63,700 4
* Messrs. Hong, Okata, Philpotts and Stender are also trustees of the 12 funds
in the Pacific Capital Funds(R) for which the Adviser is also investment
adviser. For the same period, these funds paid Trustee Hong $38,500, Trustee
Okata $43,500, Trustee Philpotts $41,000 and Trustee Stender $38,500.
Class A Shares may be purchased without a sales charge by the Trust's
Trustees and officers.
The Trust's Administrator is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aquila Management
Corporation ("AMC"), founder of each fund in the Aquila Group of Fundssm. As of
June 30, 2007 these funds had aggregate assets of approximately $5.0 billion, of
which approximately $2.3 billion consisted of assets of the tax-free municipal
bond funds. AMC's address is the same as that of the Administrator. AMC is
controlled by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann, through share ownership directly, through
two trusts and by his wife. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 the
Trust paid $1,849,958 in fees to the Administrator.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, $1,312,143 was paid under Part
I of the Trust's Distribution Plan to Qualified Recipients with respect to the
Class A Shares, of which $78,721 was retained by the Distributor. With respect
to Class C Shares, during the same period $270,900 was paid under Part II of the
Plan and $90,300 was paid under the Shareholder Services Plan. Of these total
payments of $361,200, the Distributor received $76,345. All of such payments
were for compensation.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 the Trust paid to Hollyer Brady
Barrett & Hines LLP, predecessor to Butzel Long PC, independent counsel to the
Trust, $104,065 for legal services. Edward M.W. Hines, Secretary of the Trust,
is a partner of that firm.
The Distributor currently handles the distribution of the shares of the
funds in the Aquila Group of Fundssm, including the Trust. Under the
Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is responsible for the payment of
certain printing and distribution costs relating to prospectuses and reports as
well as the costs of supplemental sales literature, advertising and other
promotional activities. The shares of the Distributor are owned 24% by Diana P.
Herrmann, 72% by Mr. Herrmann and other members of his immediate family, and the
balance by employees of Aquila Investment Management LLC.
Other Information on Trustees
The Trustees have appointed a standing Audit Committee consisting of all of
the Trustees who are "independent" and are not "interested persons" of the
Trust, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. The
members of the Audit Committee are Thomas W. Courtney, Stanley W. Hong, Theodore
T. Mason, Russell K. Okata, Douglas Philpotts and Oswald K. Stender. The
Committee (i) selects the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm
(subject to shareholder ratification); (ii) reviews the methods, scope and
result of audits and the fees charged; and (iii) reviews the adequacy of the
Trust's internal accounting procedures and controls. Selection of the
independent registered public accounting firm is also ratified by the Board of
Trustees. The Audit Committee held one meeting during the Trust's last fiscal
year. The Board of Trustees has adopted a written charter for the Audit
Committee.
During the Trust's last fiscal year, the Board of Trustees held five
meetings. Each current Trustee was present for at least 75% of the total number
of Board meetings and Audit Committee meetings (if such Trustee was a member of
that committee).
The Trust's policy is that all Trustees who can do so attend the Annual
Meeting. At the last Annual Meeting all of the Trustees were present.
The Trust has a Nominating Committee, consisting of all of the Independent
Trustees. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the last fiscal year.
The committee will consider nominees recommended by the shareholders who may
send recommendations to the committee in care of the Administrator at 380
Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Recommendations of nominees from
shareholders are not treated differently than proposals from other sources. The
charter of the Nominating Committee is available on the Trust's website at
www.aquilafunds.com.
Shareholder communications intended for the Board of Trustees (or one or
more specified Trustees) may be sent to them in care of the Administrator at the
above address.
Since the beginning of the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year, no
Trustee purchased or sold more than 1% of the outstanding shares of any class of
shares of the Adviser or its parent or subsidiaries.
Vote Required
To be elected, each nominee must receive the affirmative votes of a
majority of the shares present.
Ratification or Rejection
of Selection of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(Proposal No. 2)
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP ("TWB"), which is currently serving as the Trust's
independent registered public accounting firm, has been selected by the Trust's
Audit Committee and ratified by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of
the Independent Trustees, as the Trust's independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. Such selection is
submitted to the shareholders for ratification or rejection.
The following table represents fees for professional audit services
rendered by TWB for the audit of the Trust's annual financial statements, and
fees billed for other services rendered by TWB, for the fiscal years ended March
31, 2006 and 2007.
2006 2007
Audit Fees $18,000 $18,000
Audit related fees 0 0
Audit and audit related fees $18,000 $18,000
Tax fees (1) 3,000 3,000
All other fees 0 0
Total $21,000 $21,000
(1) Tax fees consisted of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services.
TWB did not perform any services during the last fiscal year for the
Trust's investment adviser (the Adviser) or any entity controlling, controlled
by or under common control with the Adviser that provides services to the Trust.
All audit and non-audit services performed by TWB on behalf of the Trust or
non-audit services performed on behalf of affiliated entities within the
investment company complex where such engagement relates directly to the
operations and financial reporting of the Trust are pre-approved by the Audit
Committee. Services to be considered between meetings of the Committee are
pre-approved by a selected member of the Committee in accordance with applicable
regulations and subject to additional procedures established by the Committee.
The Audit Committee has reviewed all services performed and fees charged by
TWB and has accepted TWB's representation that it is independent in recommending
re-appointment of it for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.
TWB has no direct or indirect financial interest in the Trust, the
Administrator or the Adviser. It is expected that representatives of TWB will
not be present at the meeting but will be available should any matter arise
requiring their presence.
Vote Required
Approval requires the affirmative votes of a majority of the shares
present.
Shareholder Proposals
Under the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
shareholder proposals meeting tests contained in those rules may, under certain
conditions, be included in the Trust's proxy statement and proxy card for a
particular annual meeting. One of these conditions relates to the timely receipt
by the Trust of any such proposal. Under these rules, proposals submitted for
inclusion in the proxy material for the Trust's next annual meeting after the
meeting to which this Proxy Statement relates must be received by the Trust not
less than 120 days before the anniversary of the date of this Proxy Statement.
Accordingly, a shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the Trust's 2007
annual meeting must be received by the Trust by April 9, 2008 in order to be
included in the Trust's proxy material relating to that meeting. The date for
such submission could change, depending on the scheduled date for the next
annual meeting; if so, shareholders will be notified.
The fact that the Trust receives a shareholder proposal in a timely manner
does not insure its inclusion in the Trust's proxy material, since there are
other requirements in the proxy rules relating to such inclusion.
A shareholder wishing to provide notice of a proposal in the manner
prescribed by Rule 14a-4 (c)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 must
submit written notice of the proposal to the Trust by June 23, 2008.
Other Business
The Trust does not know of any other matter which will come up for action
at the Meeting. If any other matter or matters properly come up for action at
the Meeting, including any adjournment of the Meeting, the proxy holders will
vote the shares which your proxy card, Internet or telephone vote entitles them
to vote, in accordance with their judgment on such matter or matters, except as
noted. That is, by signing and returning your proxy card or by voting by the
Internet or telephone, you give the proxy holders discretionary authority as to
any such matter or matters.
<page>
IMPORTANT NOTICE
PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
to be held on September 19, 2007
PROXY STATEMENT
<page>
HAWAIIAN TAX-FREE TRUST
VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MAIL
24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
INTERNET VOTING
www.proxyvote.com/aquila
To vote your shares by the Internet, contact the Trust at
www.proxyvote.com/aquila. Follow the simple instructions at the website, using
this proxy card as a guide. If you vote by the Internet, you need not return the
proxy card by mail.
TELEPHONE VOTING
1-877-587-0761
To vote your shares by telephone, call toll-free 1-877-587-0761. Follow the
simple recorded instructions using this proxy card as a guide. If you vote by
phone, you need not return the proxy card by mail.
VOTE BY MAIL
You can vote your shares by completing and returning this proxy card. Please
mark this proxy, date and sign it below and return it promptly in the
accompanying envelope which requires no postage if mailed in the United States.
TO VOTE: MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
1. Election of Trustees
Nominees:
01) Thomas W. Courtney; 02) Diana P. Herrmann*; 03) Stanley W. Hong;
04) Theodore T. Mason; 05) Russell K. Okata; 06) Douglas
Philpotts; 07) Oswald K. Stender
* Interested Trustee
For All Withhold All For All Except
[ ] [ ] [ ]
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for one or more (but not all)
nominees, mark "FOR ALL EXCEPT" and write the nominee
number(s) and/ or name(s) on the line below.
- -----------------------
[sentences below bolded in printed form]
Management recommends a vote FOR all nominees listed above and FOR the proposal
listed below. The shares represented hereby will be voted as indicated at right
or FOR if no choice is indicated.
2. Action on selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as independent registered
public accounting firm. (Proposal No. 2 in Proxy
Statement)
For Against Abstain
[ ] [ ] [ ]
As to any other matter said proxies shall vote in accordance with their best
judgment.
For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the
back where indicated. _
[_]
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR(S) ON THIS PROXY CARD. When signing
as a custodian, attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, etc.,
please sign your full title as such. Joint owners should each sign.
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------
Signature(s) (PLEASE SIGN WITHIN THE BOX) Date
I plan to attend the annual meeting in Honolulu [ ]
I plan to attend the outreach meeting in Maui [ ]
<page>
Aquila Group of Fundssm
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
Proxy for Shareholder Meeting - September 19, 2007
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees
The shareholder(s) of Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust (the "Trust") whose
signature(s)appear(s) on the reverse does/do hereby appoint DIANA P. HERRMANN,
CHARLES E. CHILDS, III and EDWARD M. W. HINES, or any of them, as attorneys and
proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Trust to be held on Wednesday, September
19, 2007 at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom, 410 Atkinson Drive,
Honolulu, Hawaii, at 10:00 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time, and at all adjournments
thereof, and thereat to vote the shares held in the name of the undersigned on
the record date for said meeting on the matters listed on the reverse side. Such
shares are entitled to one vote for every dollar of net asset value represented
by the share balance printed on the reverse.
Please read the proxy statement prior to voting.
Annual Meeting Attendance - You are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. If you can attend, please so indicate on the proxy card or e-mail
us at info@aquilafunds.com
Address Changes/Comments: ------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------
(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box
on the reverse side.)
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.